PAPANUI PLOUGHING MATCH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2274, 16 July 1881, Page 3

PAPANUI PLOUGHING MATCH.

The tenth annual meeting was held yesterday in a paddock kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Joseph Taylor, situated at the end of Bligh’s road, about half-a-mile from Papanui, and within five minutes’ walk of the Tramway, so that the site was favorable for visitors. The weather was remarkably fine, and for the time of year realty wonderful, a bright clear sky, with warm sun, and a cool breeze gently blowing all the day. There was a moderate attendance only, but great interest was taken in the competition. The paddock is a fine piece of lana, containing capital soil for agricultural purposes, but ; s, perhaps, rather too light and brittle for a ploughing competition, and the grub has got into it to a considerable extent. These, however, are minor drawbacks, and might, indeed, be overlooked altogether. The competition was pretty large in each class except the “ boys,” and the performances of the competitors generally very good. The arrangements made by the committee were very complete, upon which, and the manner in which the affair went off, all the officers, and especially the indefatigable secretory (Mr James W. Wright), are to be highly complimented. The following is a list of the entries : Dovele-fureow Glass. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. E. akevington C. Skevington, Waiknkn Keetley A. White ... Owner, Halkett Dnncan H. Storor ... G. Edwards, Kaiapoi Keetley Champion Class. D. Dunn ... I). Dann, Lincoln Dnncan A. Scott ... J. Walls, Kaiapoi Sellars J. Dixon ... Owner, Ashley Hyth J. M'Gowan... Owner, Ashley Watson E. C. Hack ... W. Veitoh, Harewood rd Duncan R. King ... Owner Dnncan E. Storer ... J. Johns, Styx Keetloy J. Nott ... W. Jndson Leunan W. Busby ... J. Poshby. Kaiapoi Howard Class 111. (General). G. Hill Owner, West Melton Duncan G. G. Greig ... A. Greig, Amborloy Dnncan C. Quick ... P. Walls, Kaiapoi Sellars J. Armstrong J. Dixon, Ashley Blyth M. Hanna ... T. Hanna, Sefton Duncan 6. Thorn ... G. Walker, Ashley Hornby P. Durey ... Owner, Harewood road Dnncan E. Hack ... Owner, Harewood road Duncan S, Bee G. Moody, Papanui Duncan F. Barns ... J. Walls, Kaiapoi Blyth B. Morris ... W. Morris, Waiknkn Homby J. Evans ... C. Young, Church Bush Keetley J. W. Murfitt H. Topp, Setton Hornby W. Ray ... Derritt, Papanui Keetley W. Higham ... G. Higham, North road Dnncan W. Dnfiell ... Owner, Sefton Keetley

Bovs’ Class. T. Skevington C. Skevington. Waikuku Keetley J. Merrin ... E. Merrin, Kaiapoi _ Keetley Wo now proceed to give a brief eketoh of tho competition in each class, particularising only those who appeared _ to call for special mention. Commencing, in the order of the programme, with the double • furrow ploughs, there were only three entries, and the work was well done throughout; but that of Storer was manifestly the best, though just a little high in tho feering, otherwise it was beautifully clean and even throughout. White stood second in point of merit, and in this order the prizes were awarded, Skevington third. In the single-furrow champion (class 2) some very pretty work was done, and elicited expressions of ardent admiration from expert spectators. It was tolerably evident when the ground was about covered that King would carry off first honours. Ho started with a regular, even feering, level to the ridge, and turned up a good uniform furrow throughout, clean cut, and showing no grass. His was a really splendid performance. The champion of last year for work and time, viz, Busby, was out of it this year, chiefly owing, perhaps, to the fact that he had a new plough to work with, which he had only used twice before. He began very well, his feering being very true, but fell off as the work proceeded. It may be stated that tho plough ho worked with was one of Howard’s improved, a strong plough, well suited to go through rough ground. Storer tried hard with the first man, King. His start was not so good, but he improved as he advanced, and did splendid work, the furrows being ell well laid and close packed. Hack’s style was not so good, but worked very neatly, and produced a good even furrow all round. Dunn also ploughed well, though slightly uneven in patohec. But the work in this class was really good all round, some of those competitors to whom no prizes could be given being evidently firstclass workmen, and well entitled to comp rf e in the champion class. The single furrow general class was largely entered for, and the we k all round averaged well. There were only two competitors for the boys’ class—Thomas Skevington and Frank Morreu. Both performed really good work, but the latter completely spoiled his feering, improving, however, vastly as he advanced. The horses on the ground were fine representatives of their class, and came in for a share of attention. Following is the prize list: —

Class I—Donble-furrow Ploughs, to the man who shall, in a given time, with a doublefurrow, best plough three-quarters of an acre of land ; Ist prize, £3, with gold medal value £5 added ; 2nd prize, £4; 3rd, if four ploughs compete, £3. H. Storer 1 A. White 2 E. Skevington _ ... 3 Class 2—Single-furrow Champion (open to all comers), to the man who shall, in a given time, best plough half an acre of land ; Ist prize, £lO ; 2nd prize, £5 ; 3rd prize (given by J. T. Ford and Co.), £3. Robert King 1 E. Storer 2 F. C. Hack 3 David Dnnn ... 4 Class 3 Single-furrow, general class, to the man who has never previously won a first prize, and shall, in a given time, best plough half an aero of land; Ist prize, £8; 2nd prize, £5; 3rd prize, £1; 4th prize, £2; sth prize, goods to the value of £1 ss, given by Strange and Fountain. Samuel Bee \ W. Higham 2 Q. Thorne .3 In class 3, two extra prizes were given, first of £3 and second of £2, given to be competed for by men ploughing in this class who reside within tho boundaries of the Avon and Eiocarton Road Board districts. Tho successful men were —

W. Higham 1 B. Hack ... 2 Class 4—Boys; to the boys under seventeen years of age who shall, in a given time, best plough half an acre of land ; Ist prize (given by H. Matson and Co.), .£5; 2nd prize, £3; 3rd prize, £2 ; 4ih prize, a silver medal (given by Mr Urquhart), value £l.

Thomas Skevington 1 P. Merrin 2 Class s—Best “Peering” in Class 3j £1 Is, given by K. Wilkin and Co. Best Peering in Boys’ Class, a prize value £1 Is, given by R. Wilkin and Co. General—F. Burns J Boys —T. Skevington 1 Class G —Best Finish on the Ground; a enp value £1 15s, given by Mr White, jeweller. E. Storer 1 Class 7—Best Ins and Outs ; prize value £1 Is, given by Mr Eyres. P. Durey ... ... ••• I Class B—For the Best Pair of Draught Brood Mares on the ground, tho property of one owner, and which have worked in the match ; prize, £2 2s. J. Walls 1 Class 9—For the Best Matched Pair of Horses suitable for farming purposes, the property . of one owner, and which have also worked in tho match ; prize, £2 2s. F. Walls ... 1 J. Dickson Highly commended Class 10—For tho Best Groomed Pair of Horses working on the ground ; a pair of covers, given by Mr B. Halo, value £2 10s. W. Higham 1 F. Merrin Highly commended Class 11—For the Best Kept Harness, not to have been in use less than six months ; a pair of blinkers, value £2 2s, given by Mr C. Howell. Eobt. King . 1 The usual dinner accompanying the above annual exhibition was held in the evening at Mr Wild’s Sawyers’ Arms Hotel, and passed off most successfully.